How to Use Periscope to Build Your Career Brand

Launched in March 2015, Periscope is Twitter’s live video streaming mobile app. At this time, it’s available on iOS and Android. You can share a live video broadcast (called a ‘Scope’) with your followers on Periscope and Twitter. The idea is to let someone else see what’s happening right now, through your eyes.

How is Periscope used?

Since it’s a mobile app, it can be used on the fly. Or, you can plan to broadcast at a specific day and time and let your network know they can join you when the day comes.

Here’s an example of something I might Tweet – “I was just on my way to my next meeting, so I thought I’d record this quick Scope on my coaching program, Career Roadmap.”

How do followers know when to tune in?

Your Twitter and Periscope followers get a notification on their mobile phone when your broadcast starts. Once they open the Periscope app, they can watch and interact with you live. Once finished, your broadcast remains available for viewing for 24 hours, then it disappears into cyberspace.

How can viewers get involved in a Scope?

During your broadcast, viewers can use the chat functionality to comment and ask questions making Periscope highly interactive and engaging.

They can also tap their screen to give you ‘hearts’ (think of it as a ‘Like’ on Facebook). The more they tap, the more hearts you get. Each viewer gets a different colour of heart as they float up from the bottom of the screen. Hearts are like currency and are a viewer’s way of showing they like what you have to say.

With a quick swipe, viewers can easily share your broadcast and invite their followers to watch you live, too. The more followers you have, the more exposure you can get.

How can I use Periscope to build my career brand?

Real-time Interaction with Clients: There’s nothing better than getting feedback directly from clients. Periscope provides a platform to engage with and hear what your clients and prospects have to say.

Build Your Know-Like-Trust Factor: Getting a glimpse of you on video, helps clients get to know you better. They can see how you speak, your mannerisms, tone of voice, and sense of humour. Use Periscope to your advantage and let your light shine.

Share Your Expertise: Periscope can position you as an expert in your field. Plan your content ahead of time and speak on real challenges your clients are facing.

Share Your Work: If you’re launching a new program or project, you can use Periscope to tell people what it’s all about. You can also demo something you’ve been working on like a new website or book.

Market Your Events: If you’re speaking at a conference or event, you can share a live broadcast of your talk through Periscope. This helps followers see you in action as a leader in your niche.

What do I need to keep in mind about Periscope?

Periscope is live, so there’s no video editing or retakes. It’s candid, personal, and real. Don’t try to be perfect. Being authentic and genuine will serve you well.

Stay true to your brand. While Periscope is candid and typically unscripted, you do still want to maintain your professional edge. Remember, even though you can’t see them, people are watching. Represent yourself well.

There are no slides or content uploads. It’s really all about you engaging with your audience. If you want to show something on your computer screen, for example, simply flip your mobile camera around, but that’s as close you’ll get to showcasing content on Periscope.

Consistency is key. Like with most social media forums, to get results, build your followership, and reap other benefits, you’ll need to be a consistent broadcaster. Followers can come to depend on your scopes so aim to create a content calendar before starting.

Learn from your replays. This is a good way to self-assess and look for opportunities to become an even better broadcaster. Remember to use an eye of self-improvement, not self-criticism.